1min read
Published on: Jan 18, 2024
#Glossary
The slang FUD stands for Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. This slang/acronym connotes a negative emotion surrounding the markets.
Often used to describe a pessimistic occurrence in the markets, FUD is a sentiment prevalent across both crypto and stock markets.
This occurrence can be the spread of false or exaggerated information among traders by the market manipulators to cause short-term panic, where traders sell off their assets in order to avoid losses.
Sometimes, this false information can be targeted at a crypto project, exchange, or token.
Another occurrence is when a prominent body does something negative in the crypto space, which in turn causes the crypto market to move in fear and uncertainty. A good example is when China banned crypto-related activities in 2021 - which has caused FUD in the crypto market worldwide.
The term FUD is not new, at all. It was in fact coined in the 90s by tech giant IBM.
IBM used this term to explain how other tech companies used this move in their marketing strategies to dissuade buyers from purchasing the products or services from their competitors. Today, this term is widely adopted by the crypto community to connote almost the same concept.
FUD can also be seen as a strategy that market manipulators use to influence the perception of specific cryptocurrencies or projects in the market to their favour.
This is done by posting false information or sometimes factual information about a certain cryptocurrency or exchange... This, in turn, goes viral among traders - which will cause a sensation of panic in the overall market.
A famous example of how market manipulators have used FUD is when Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and X, announced that Tesla won't be accepting BTC as a payment due to Bitcoin's increasing use of fossil fuels.
This post sent many traders into panic mode. After that tweet, the price of the coin fell by over 10% as traders who had paper hands were selling off their Bitcoin holdings at cheap prices.
FUD also includes arguments from popular personalities who show negative perceptions surrounding cryptocurrency. A good example is JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon who publicly stated to US lawmakers in a hearing of the Senate Banking Committee on oversight of Wall Street firms in December 2023 that Bitcoin is a fraud.
Jamie has always been a long-time antagonist of crypto, just like Warren Buffet, who has no interest in crypto. Having this kind of authority in the market, any opinion coming from him can potentially cause FUD among crypto investors.
FUD in crypto often starts on social media like X, Discord, and Reddit where anyone, especially crypto influencers, posts negative news or stories about crypto or crypto projects. The essence of this move is to create some concern, fear or pessimism among traders or users of a targeted crypto project to act negatively. Sometimes, this news blows up and can cause a bear market.
FUD is often confused with another popular market term, FOMO. FOMO stands for the fear of missing out.
In the markets, FOMO is the fear of missing out on assets that are high in demand and expected to perform exceedingly well.
FOMO is entirely different from FUD in that while the former bets on creating a demand-driven sentiment around an asset, the latter bets on circulating negative sentiment around an asset.
It is essential to know that people who post or make FUD stories are called FUDsters.
FUDsters include Jamie Dimon, Warren Buffet, Elon Musk, etc.
FUD is an emotional sentiment that plays a massive role in the financial market in general. It affects how traders buy, sell, and invest in assets, especially when the market is bearish.
During FUD periods, investors and traders with paper hands tend to sell off their crypto holdings or positions to avoid being at a loss. However, in these periods, some crypto traders see it as an excellent opportunity to buy crypto at lower prices. This is known as ‘buying the dip’.
It is important to note that FUD starts with rumours, which are created mainly by people who sometimes want to shift the market in their favour. By doing so, they either spread false rumours about a project or token so traders will sell off their holdings and they will buy these holdings at significantly discounted prices.
Once the stories die down, these market manipulators can make huge gains when investors begin to repurchase the coin as they sell these coins at higher prices.
As a trader, you can avoid FUD while trading by checking for the source of the information causing the sentiment. If this is legit information from a legitimate source, it is advisable to wait a while before you sell off your positions. By doing this, you won't be swayed by your emotions or the rumours if you decide to sell off your holdings.
FUD is an emotional weapon used frequently by market manipulators. Oftentimes, it happens due to a negative turn of events in the crypto market.
While there are so many negative happenings in the crypto space, like hacks and projects shutting down or rug-pulling, you must invest in cryptocurrencies with a strong track record, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Also, you can look at staking your coins instead of selling them off in case of FUD.
Check out our glossary for more!
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This article is for informational purposes only and not intended as investment or financial advice. It contains opinions and speculations that are subject to change without notice.
The author and publisher disclaim any liability for decisions made based on the content of this article. Readers are advised to conduct their own research and consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
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